There’s a saying we have in Birdland Thad we like to inform other teams about. It’s more like a warning but a statement and testament of the importance of a particular player.
That statement: “Don’t let Tony Taters get hot!”
Of course, as an opponent, they are well aware of Tony Taters and what him heating up can not only do for the excitement of the fan base but how he can single-handedly carry a team.
Recently, the Chicago White Sox found out what a hot Tony can do to a team. In the series, one the Birds’ won two games to one, Santander was 6-for-13 (.462 average) with four runs scored, two home runs, two doubles and nine RBIs.
The White Sox series culminated an August that saw Santander slash .276/.333/.598 across 23 games. Coincidentally, it was the Orioles’ best month of the season.
Santander finished August with eight home runs and 21 RBIs, with 50% of his hits going for extra bases, as he scored 14 runs. Tony also ended the month with an 11-game on-base streak.
As the Orioles enter the stretch run and are driving for a division title, Santander will be a key component to help make that happen.
For the season, Santander is slashing .261/.332/.494 with 26 home runs. He has set a career-high with 34 doubles and with his 82 RBIs, is only eight away from setting a career-high and remains six walks away (50 currently) from setting a career-high.
What the Orioles have seen from the former Rule 5 Draft pick is a solid middle of the order bat who can carry a team on his back. While he gets more credit for his offense, Santander also has a 1.000 fielding percentage this season, playing mostly in right field, although he has played 11 games at first base and one game in left field.
The Orioles took a chance on the outfielder in 2017, and they have gotten, over the last few years, a game-changing power hitter who has become an integral part of the Orioles’ rebuild and push towards their first postseason birth since 2016.
Taters got hot, now the rest of the league has to feel his wrath.
What do you think of Santander’s hot month? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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